The Three Great Emperor Officials

The Three Great Emperor Officials (三官大帝 Sanguan Dadi), also called the Great Emperors of the Three Primordials (三元大帝 Sanyuan Dadi), are a trinity of supreme Taoist deities that embody the essence of the primordial energies of the universe. This divine triumvirate are comprised of the Heaven Official (天官 Tianguan), Earth Official (地官 Diguan), and Water Official (水官 Shuiguan).

The Three Great Emperor Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water

(Image: Source unknown)

The Heaven Official

The Great Emperor Heaven Official is correlated with the Jade Clarity Realm (玉清境 Yuqing Jing) and embodies the essence of the green, yellow, and white energies. He is in charge of all the other sovereign deities in the heavenly regions (i.e. celestial deities with the title “emperor” that reside in the heaven realms). His full title is The Great Emperor Heaven Official of Purple Subtlety of the Upper Primordial & Primary Grade Who Confers Blessings (上元一品賜福天官紫微大帝 Shangyuan Yipin Cifu Tianguan Ziwei Dadi).

The 15th day of the 1st Chinese lunar month, coinciding with the Yuanxiao/Lantern Festival, is observed as his birthday and is also known as the Shangyuan (Upper Primordial) Festival (上元節 Shangyuan Jie). It is believed that on this day, the Heaven Official descends to earth to inspect the world of mortals and to confer his blessings on them.

The Earth Official

The Great Emperor Earth Official is correlated with the Supreme Clarity Realm (上清境 Shangqing Jing) and embodies the essence of the energies of the primordial grotto and consolidated spirit and that of the extreme yellow. He is in charge of the five emperors of the Five Sacred Taoist Mountains, as well as all the other deities of the earth (i.e. terrestrial and locality gods). His full title is The Great Emperor Earth Official of Pristine Emptiness of the Middle Primordial & Secondary Grade Who Pardons Sins (中元二品赦罪地官清虛大帝 Zhongyuan Erpin Shezui Diguan Qingxu Dadi).

The 15th day of the 7th Chinese lunar month, coinciding with the Ghost Festival, is observed as his birthday and is also known as the Zhongyuan (Middle Primordial) Festival (中元節 Zhongyuan Jie). It is believed that on this day, the Earth Official descends to earth to inspect and assess the sins of mortals and to pardon them if he sees it is fit to do so.

The Water Official

The Great Emperor Water Official is correlated with the Jade Clarity Realm (玉清境 Yuqing Jing) and embodies the essence of the energies of wind and water and that of the vast dawn. He is in charge of all deities that reside in or are related to water. His full title is The Great Emperor Water Official of Pervasive Yin of Lower Primordial & Tertiary Grade Who Eliminates Distress (下元三品解厄水官洞陰大帝 Xiayuan Sanpin Jie E Shuiguan Dongyin Dadi).

The 15th day of the 10th Chinese lunar month is observed as his birthday and is also known as the Xiayuan (Lower Primordial) Festival (下元節 Xiayuan Jie). It is believed that on this day, the Water Official descends to earth to inspect and assess the sins of mortals and to eliminate their misfortune and distress if he sees it is fit to do so.

The Three Great Emperor Officials of Heaven (center), Earth (right), and Water (left)

(Image: Source unknown)

Taoist followers hold ceremonies in honor of the three emperor-officials on their respective birthdays to pray for good fortune and blessings and to eliminate calamities and disasters.

Text © 2011 Harry Leong